AboutExpert Expertise My cooking style leans towards Mediterranean, with an emphasis on gourmet, party fare, and vegetarian cuisine. I am a food journalist, I’ve written and edited several cookbooks, and I develop and teach cooking classes.
Experience I have developed recipes for specialty food manufacturers, conducted many seminars on cooking and ethnic foods, and have taught customized cooking classes. I have also owned a gift shop, a floral design business, and a catering business.
I’m the author of Con Amore, a contemporary novel about food, love, and life – Italian style. It includes a brief history of Italy, the foods of each region, and a variety of recipes – many that are vegetarian or easily adaptable to the vegetarian diet. I am the author of Herbed-Wine Cuisine and several other books on a variety of topics.
I publish a quarterly e-newsletter, Simply Elegant, which provides information on food, decorating, and entertaining. I also publish a monthly e-newsletter, Tutto Italiano, about everything Italian. Visit my Web site, www.jtmancuso.com, to learn more.
Expert: Expert Date: 6/26/2007 Subject: thawed veg food.. how long is it okay! please answer here
Question Please answer to this e-mail. i put in wrong e-mail before, and did not receive answer! I purchased a bunch of MorningStar Farms vegetarian food, from veg hotdogs to crumbles (like ground beef) to veg nuggets. I put these frozen packets in a cooler and shipped it from US to India, where i live now. Well, my luggage was lost, and I didn't receive this box till 5 days later. The food was thawed in their original packaging. Do i have to throw it all away? Some of the ingredients are whey, soy, egg.. among other flavors... I hate to throw it all away! so sad.. let me know if you know for sure. mia
Answer Mia,
I would not take a chance and eat these products. Especially if instructions on the packaging say do not thaw, do not refreeze, or keep frozen.
If an airline or other commercial company lost your luggage, you should receive some type of compensation for damages. Contact the company to find out the procedure for filing a claim to be reimbursed for the food that was spoiled.